SMOKE HAD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THE WIRES IN STEERING COLUMN CAUSED FRICTION. *AK THE MECHANIC STATED THAT EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD BURN TO THE GROUND. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWICE DUE TO A CORRODED CABLE WHICH LEAD TO THE ENGINE. THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE…
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SMOKE HAD COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THE WIRES IN STEERING COLUMN CAUSED FRICTION. *AK THE MECHANIC STATED THAT EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE WOULD BURN TO THE GROUND. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED TWICE DUE TO A CORRODED CABLE WHICH LEAD TO THE ENGINE. THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNSURE IF THE AIR BAG(S) WOULD DEPLOY. *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10024696
Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2003
Electrical System
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PRBLEMS WITH SPARK PLUGS.DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT SPARK PLUGS WERE CONSUMER'S RESPONSIBILITY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10026581
65,000 miles · Jun 17, 2003
Electrical SystemCrash
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE THAT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10024257
36,137 miles · Apr 15, 2003
Electrical System
ALL POWER DOORS, WINDOWS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK IN MY 2000 KIA SPORTAGE. AFTER INSPECTING ALL FUSES AND LIGHT BULBS, I BELIEVE BAD WIRING OR BAD CONNECTORS TO BE THE CULPRIT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10014424
68,000 miles · Apr 6, 2003
Electrical System
SINCE OCT. 2002 UNTIL APRIL 2003, THE POWER LOCKS WOULD OPERATE ERRATICALLY, MAKING THE LOCK AND UNLOCKING SOUND, AND A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH BOARD, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, FIRST THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIMER CONTROL UNIT, AUDIO CIRCUIT, THEY DID FIND FOUR CHAFFERED WIRES …
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SINCE OCT. 2002 UNTIL APRIL 2003, THE POWER LOCKS WOULD OPERATE ERRATICALLY, MAKING THE LOCK AND UNLOCKING SOUND, AND A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH BOARD, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, FIRST THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIMER CONTROL UNIT, AUDIO CIRCUIT, THEY DID FIND FOUR CHAFFERED WIRES IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, AND SOME CORROSION FROM THE MAIN DOOR PIN. TWO DAYS LATER FROM PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. ALARM IS WORKING FUNNY WHEN THE VEHICLE LOCKS ARE FREAKING OUT. SERVICE MANAGER WHERE I TAKE MY VEHICLE FOR SERVICE SAID TO ME UPON PICKING UP MY VEHICLE," I HOPE YOU DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY, OR PERSONALLY, BUT I HOPE I DON'T SEE YOU AGAIN, YOU KNOW THINGS ARE EITHER BLACK, WHITE, OR GRAY AND THIS SITUATION IS VERY GRAY." IMAGINE THAT, THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE THERE FOR, TO FIX YOUR VEHICLE. I HAVE GIVEN THIS PLACE 8 YEARS OF SERVICE BETWEEN THIS VEHICLE AND MY PREVIOUS CAR. WAIT UNTIL I HAVE TO CALL AND SAY IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. IF ANYONE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND HAS FOUND THE ANSWER, PLEASE HELP BETWEEN MARCH 26,2003 AND APRIL 4,2003 VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER THREE TIMES AND ONCE LAST OCT,2002 I GUESS DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10014028
9,914 miles · Mar 15, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
EXHAUST LEAKS AT GASKET, WIRES SHORTING IN HARNESS TO ALTERNATOR BOTH FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10010504
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2002
Electrical System
THE SAFEGUARD KEEP FAILING ON KEY REMOTE, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND REPLACE THE SAFEGUARD AND IT KEEP ON FAILING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA ODI #8023746
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
CONSUMER STATED THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE FAILED TWICE. *YH
NHTSA ODI #567126
Mileage unknown · May 28, 2002
Electrical SystemEquipmentVisibility
FUSE FOR POWER WINDOWS AND A/C BLOWER KEPT BLOWING OUT. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8010605
Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2002
Electrical SystemEquipmentPower Train
ELECTRICAL LIGHTS, EQUIPMENT, POWER TRAIN ALL ARE MALFUNCTIONED.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES MAY EMIT A "CLICK" SOUND DURING THE BUCKLING PROCESS THAT IS SIMILAR TO THE SOUND EMITTED WHEN A BUCKLE IS BEING LATCHED, WHEN IT IS NOT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE LATCH CAN THEN PULL OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN TENSION IS APPLIED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE. THESE VEHICLES WERE DISTRIBUTED WITH OWNERS MANUALS WITH AN INCORRECT JUMP START DIAGRAM. THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS FOR JUMP STARTING ARE ACCURATE. HOWEVER, THE DIAGRAM DEPICTS THE JUMPER CABLES ATTACHED TO THE WRONG POLARITY TERMINALS. IF THE DIAGRAM WERE FOLLOWED WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE INSTRUCTIONS, THE RESULTING IMPROPER CONNECTIONS COULD CAUSE THE BATTERY TO RUPTURE AGGRESSIVELY DUE TO INCREASED INTERNAL PRESSURES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE POTENTIAL SERIOUS INJURY TO BYSTANDERS.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ADHESIVE LABEL WITH THE CORRECT ILLUSTRATION TO PERMANENTLY AFFIX TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS MANUALS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA REVEALED ELEVATED TANK LEAKAGE EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JUNE 1999 TO OCTOBER 2000.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE.THE MAJORITY OF COMPLAINTS INVOLVE NON-SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS OF FUEL LEAKAGE WHERE MORE THAN ONE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENT WAS REPLACED.ODI'S ANALYSIS FOCUSED ON LEAKS OCCURRING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TANK DUE TO CORROSIVE FAILURE CAUSED BY DISRUPTION OF THE PROTECTIVE PVC COATING.THE ANALYSISINDICATES THAT SUCH LEAKS ARE RARE AND DO NOT SHOW EVIDENCE OF AN INCREASING TREND. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline
A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA REVEALED ELEVATED TANK LEAKAGE EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JUNE 1999 TO OCTOBER 2000.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE.THE MAJORITY OF COMPLAINTS INVOLVE NON-SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS OF FUEL LEAKAGE WHERE MORE THAN ONE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENT WAS REPLACED.ODI'S ANALYSIS FOCUSED ON LEAKS OCCURRING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TANK DUE TO CORROSIVE FAILURE CAUSED BY DISRUPTION OF THE PROTECTIVE PVC COATING.THE ANALYSISINDICATES THAT SUCH LEAKS ARE RARE AND DO NOT SHOW EVIDENCE OF AN INCREASING TREND. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage
A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA REVEALED ELEVATED TANK LEAKAGE EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JUNE 1999 TO OCTOBER 2000.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE.THE MAJORITY OF COMPLAINTS INVOLVE NON-SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS OF FUEL LEAKAGE WHERE MORE THAN ONE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENT WAS REPLACED.ODI'S ANALYSIS FOCUSED ON LEAKS OCCURRING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TANK DUE TO CORROSIVE FAILURE CAUSED BY DISRUPTION OF THE PROTECTIVE PVC COATING.THE ANALYSISINDICATES THAT SUCH LEAKS ARE RARE AND DO NOT SHOW EVIDENCE OF AN INCREASING TREND. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA REVEALED ELEVATED TANK LEAKAGE EXPERIENCE IN VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JUNE 1999 TO OCTOBER 2000.ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS IDENTIFIED MULTIPLE CAUSES AND ORIGINS OF FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE.THE MAJORITY OF COMPLAINTS INVOLVE NON-SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS OF FUEL LEAKAGE WHERE MORE THAN ONE FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENT WAS REPLACED.ODI'S ANALYSIS FOCUSED ON LEAKS OCCURRING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TANK DUE TO CORROSIVE FAILURE CAUSED BY DISRUPTION OF THE PROTECTIVE PVC COATING.THE ANALYSISINDICATES THAT SUCH LEAKS ARE RARE AND DO NOT SHOW EVIDENCE OF AN INCREASING TREND. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
ON JANUARY 4, 2006, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE STEEL FUEL STORAGE TANK IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999-2000 KIA SPORTAGE VEHICLES.ODI SENT A LETTER TO THE MANUFACTURER ON JANUARY 25, 2006 REQUESTING INFORMATION ABOUT THESE AND OTHER KIA SPORTAGE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF 40 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGE FUEL STORAGE TANK LEAKAGE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ANALYSIS OF MANUFACTURER DATA INDICATES THAT ALLEGED FUEL LEAKAGE AT OR NEAR THE STORAGE TANK MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT FAILURE MODES INVOLVING THE FUEL CONTAINMENT AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.KIA HAS IDENTIFIED CORROSION AS A PRIMARY CAUSAL FACTOR RELATED TO FUEL STORAGE TANK COMPLAINTS AND CONTINUED FUEL SYSTEM PART SALES.ACCORDING TO KIA, FUEL TANK CORROSION CLAIMS RELATED TO LEAKAGE CAN BE DIVIDED INTO TWO CATEGORIES: LOWER TANK CLAIMS ASSOCIATED WITH EXTERIOR CORROSION DUE TO DISRUPTION OF THE POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC) PROTECTIVE COATING AND UPPER TANK CLAIMS ASSOCIATED WITH CORROSION AT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT MOUNTING PLATE AREA.THE MANUFACTURER'S INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED FUEL TANK CORROSION RESULTING IN LEAKAGE IS ONGOING.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-007) TO FURTHER STUDY THE FREQUENCY, SCOPE, AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.
EA04007 · Seat Belt Buckle False Latch/malfunction
Opened Feb 27, 2004 · Closed Jul 26, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
THE MANUFACTURER HAS INITIATED A SAFETY RELATED CAMPAIGN TO RECALL THE SUBJECT VEHICLES FOR CORRECTION OF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DEFECT.THE CORRECTIVE ACTION IS TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS/BUCKLES.THIS SAFETY RECALL PROGRAM HAS BEEN ASSIGNED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. 04V305.
RQ03007 · Seat Belt Buckle False Latch/malfunction
Opened Oct 14, 2003 · Closed Feb 27, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
INFORMATION RECEIVED AND ANALYZED DURING THIS RQ DISCLOSED THAT MY 1999 AND 2000 KIA SEPHIA AND SPORTAGE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH MODIFIED VERSIONS OF THE SAME SAFETY BELT LATCH ASSEMBLY AS THOSE RECALLED IN CAMPAIGN NO. 02V-216.THESE LATCH ASSEMBLIES WERE IDENTIFIED AS TYPE A97. ODI ANALYSES INDICATE A CONTINUING TREND OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS FOLLOWING A SERIES OF DESIGN MODIFICATIONS MADE BY KIA TO IMPROVE THE A97 LATCH ASSEMBLY.MY 2001 AND 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH DIFFERENT DESIGN LATCH ASSEMBLIES (TYPE DB-6 OR AUTOLIV) AND EXHIBIT A MUCH LOWER COMPLAINT COUNT.THIS RQ HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN EA IN ORDER TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TYPE A97 LATCH ASSEMBLIES.
DP02006 · Vehicle Rollover
Opened Jun 5, 2002 · Closed Sep 23, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE00026 · Incorrect Battery JUMP-START
Opened Jul 10, 2000 · Closed Jul 31, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
ALLEGE BATTETY MAY EXPLODE IF OWNER'S ATTEMPT TO JUMP-STATE THE VEHICLE BY FOLLOWING THE OWNER'S MANUAL DIAGRAM
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